Life-boat.



No. 799,378. PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

H. J. HBDDBRWIGK.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 2o. 1904.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@wa 55mg@ No. 799,378. PATENTED SEPT. l2, 1905. H. J. HEDDERWICK. LIFE BOAT.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 2o. 1904.

z SHEETS-SHEET z.

6,2/5 0% giga/ UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed August 20, 1904. Serial No. 221,466.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD J AMES HEDDER- WICK, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, of the Citizen office, St. Vincent street, Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Scotland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Boats, (for which I have made application for a patent in Great Britain, No. 18,209, bearing date August 2A, 1903,) of which the following is'a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a life-boat which when capsized will regain its normal position by reason of an adjustment of stability due to a preponderance of water ballast being automatically established in chambers on one side of the boat when it capsizes, the water ballast being subsequently equalized as the boat regains its upright position.

Some examples of the application of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings.

Figure l is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, and Fig. 3 is an inverted midship-section, illustrating a life-boat fitted with keel-ballast constructed with improvements i-n accordance with this invention. Fig. A is an inverted midship-section illustrating a life-boat provided with central compartments for the reception of water ballast constructed and fitted in conjunction with improvements in accordance with this invention, and Fig. 5 is adetail view of a drain-pipe and valve. Fig. 6 is an inverted midship-section illustrating a life-boat provided with centrallydivided compartments for the reception of water ballast constructed and fitted in accordance with this invention. Fig. 7 is an inverted midship-section illustrating a form of life-boat provided with central bottom compartments for the reception of water ballast constructed and fitted in conjunction with improvements in accordance with this invention.

. compartments B, a series of cases F are provided, surmounted by a second but smaller series of cases G. Each case is formed with top inlets H and base-outlets H of large capacity. The inlets H and outlets H' are fitted with suitable check-valves. (Not shown in the drawings.) A second series of cases F G are similarly located upon the opposite side of the life-boat; but these series differ from the aforesaid in that they are closed o'r y of permanent air-tightconstruction.

Referring to Fig. A, the central bottom compartments C are constructed to receive water ballast and are fitted with air admission and escape apertures J J in the top and bottom thereof. The drain-tubes Din this construction are formed with passages midway between the top and bottom of the, compartments O, each fitted with a control-valve. The construction of drain-tube and controlvalve will be better understood on reference to Fig. 5, in which l designates a base-tube and 2 a top tube, an annular passage being formed between their adjacent ends, which is adapted to be closed by the annular control-valve K. The valve K is formed with an arched yoke 3, which is slidingly mounted upon a central guide-rod 4, which may be secured in the position indicated, whereby the valve closes the annular passage, or the rod 4 may be drawn in and a threaded portion 5 screwed into the bridge 6, which will allow the valve K to rise and fall on its seating.

Referring to Fig. 6,the central bottom compartments are longitudinally divided by a bulkhead L, producing two independent series of cases C C2, both adapted to receive water ballast. The cases C' are closed and are permanently charged with water ballast. The cases O2 are formed with top outlets and base-inlets fitted, respectively, withvalves M M. The valves are coupled together by a rod 7 and the base-valve F is of larger area than the top valve M. A momentum-weight 8 may be fitted upon and adapted to slide freely on the rod 7.

Referring to Fig. 7 upper and lower central chambers O3 C* are formed in the base of the boat. The lower chambers Ci are `constructed to receive water ballast, and the upper chambers C3 are of air-tight construction. In this instance the drain-tubes vD are arranged centrally and extend into the chambers Ci, terminating about midway between the top and bottom of each chamber. Oentral slots N are formed through the keel, fitted with means for closing same, if required, and air admission and escapeways J 3 are provided in the top of the chambers C4.

With the constructions as described in ref- IOO IIO

erence to Figs. t and 7 it is to be stated that air-tight compartments, such as A B, and series of casesF GF G', arranged as described with reference to Figs. l to 3, are to be fitted to act in conjunction therewith; but the construction described in reference to Fig. 6 may or may not be so fitted, as it constitutes a complete acting construction in itself, and,further, the cases and compartments are preferably transversely subdivided into series.

In action when the life-boat as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 is capsized water will flow into the cases F and G through the inlets H. This will produce a readjustnient of stability, acting to turn the boat in the direction' indicated by the arrow, and as the boat regains the upright position the water will automatically flow out of the cases by the outlets H', and when the cases F G are drained normal conditions will be reestablished. The check-valves in the outlets H will prevent ingress of water to the cases when the life-boat is upright.

The action of the lifeboat constructed as illustrated at Fig. 4 will be as follows: WV hen capsized, the water ballast will run out of the compartments C, past the annular valves K, to about the level indicated, the cases F G will fill, and as the boat begins to turn over the Water remaining in the compartments C will ow to thedescending side and produce an additional turning force. This will produce a readjustment of stabilty, acting to turn the boat in the direction indicated by the arrow. As the boat regains the upright position the compartments C will automatically refill, water flowing in past the valves K, and when the cases F G are drained normal conditions will be restablished. The valves K will remain closed until the life-boat is almost inverted, so that in other conditions the com,- partments C will remain fully charged.

The construction as illustrated at Fig. 6 will act as follows: Then the life-boat is capsized, the water ballast will iiow out of the cases C2 past the outlet-valves M, the air entering by inlet-valves M. Water ballast will remain in the cases C. These conditions will produce a readjustment of stability, acting to turn the boat in the direction indicated by the arrow. As the boat regains its upright position the water will automatically flow into the cases C2 past the valve M, and when the compartments C2 are again full normal condition will be restablished.

The construction as illustrated at Fig. 7 will the direction indicated by the arrow. As the boat regains the upright position the water will flow in through the slots N, air escaping4 by the tubes J3, and refill the chambers, and when the cases F G are drained normal conditions will be reestablished.

The series of cases F G preferably only extend in depth down to about the load waterline and in length between the end compartments, as indicated at Fig 2; but it is to be understood that the two separate series are merely given as an illustration of one practical form. Other constructions of divided or undivided or extended series may be adopted, if desired.

What l do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A life-boat having a series of cases located at one side of the center line of the boat formed with inlets and outlets fitted with automatically-acting valves, in combination with a series of closed cases located at the opposite side of the center line of the boat, arranged and acting substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Q. A life-boat having end, sidelongitudinal, and central air-tight compartments, in combination with a series of cases with top inlets and base-outlets formed therein located at one side of the boat, together with a series of airtight cases located upon the opposite side of the boat, fitted and arranged for the purposes substantially as set forth.

3. A life-boat having central bottom compartments provided with air admission and escape apertures and drain-tubes formed with midway passages fitted with control-valves, in combination with a series of cases with top inlets and base-outlets formed therein located at one side of the boat, together with a series of air-tight cases located upon the opposite side of the boat, fitted and arranged for the purposes set forth.

4. A life-boat having end and side longitudinal air-tight compartments, in combination with central bottom compartments having air admission and escape apertures,l and draintubes, formed with midway passages, fitted with control-valves, together with a series of cases with top inlets and base-outlets formed therein located at one side of the boat, together with a series of air-tight cases located upon the opposite side of the boat, fitted and arranged for the purposes substantially as set forth.

5. A life-boat having' a series of watercharged cases located on one side ofthe center line of the boat and a series of cases, located upon the opposite side, provided with top outlets and base-inlets fitted with valves, coupled together by a rod, in combination with a series of cases with top inlets and base-outlets formed therein located at one side of the boat, together with a series of air-tight cases located upon the opposite side of the boat, fit- IOO ted and arranged for the purposes substantially as set forth.

6. A life-boat having end and side longitudinal airtight compartments, in combination with, a series of water-charged cases located on one side of the center line of the boat, and a series of cases, located upon the opposite side, provided with top outlets and base-inlets litted with valves, coupled together b y a rod, in combination with a series of cases with top inlets and base-outlets formed therein located at one side of the boat, together with a series of airtight cases located upon the opposite side of the boat, iitted and arranged for the purposes substantially as set forth.

7. A lifeboat having upper air-tight cen-y tral chambers with a lower central water-ballast chamber, d-rain-tubes extending midway into the lower chamber, central slots in the keel, airways in the top of the lower chamber, in combination with a series of cases with `top inlets and base-outlets formed therein located at one side of the boat,together with a series of air-tight cases located upon the opposite side of the boat, fitted and arranged for the purposes substantially as set forth.

8. A life-boat having end and side longitudinal air-tight compartments in combination with lower central water-ballast chambers, drain-tubes extending midway into the chambers, central slots in the keel, airways in the top of the lower chambers, together with a series of cases with top inlets and base-outlets formed therein located at one side of the boat, together with a series of air-tight cases located upon the opposite side of the boat, fitted and arranged for the purposes substantially as set forth.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

lHAROLD JAMES HEDDERWICK.

Witnesses:

J. ALFRED BREWER, JNO. MOFADZEAN. 

